Tulane Goes Deep, Get Solid Pitching in an 8 - 1 Win over Wichita

Unlike the Good Friday game, Tulane bats were able to cash in when there were ducks on the pond, scoring a run in the first and three more in the 2nd and getting long balls from a Senior and a Sophomore, while J.D. Rodriguez pitched almost flawlessly to propel the Green Wave to a 8 - 1 victory over who was the American Conference-leading Wichita State Shockers. The victory improves the Wave's league record to 4-5, while WSU drops to 5-4.

On Friday night, the Sluggerbirds loaded the bases twice in two separate innings, but could only manage a run. It was a different story on Saturday.

Tulane was able to score a run in the first inning, sending six to the plate. Then three more crossed the plate in the second with seven Greenies going to the batter's box, as the Green Wave piled on the Shockers to take an impressive 4-0 lead against Wichita' ace starter. Johnny Nuanez came into the game with a sparkling 1.80-ERA, striking out 24 and walking seven in his half-dozen starts. Against Tulane, Saturday, Nuanez lasted only 1-and-two-thirds of an inning, gave up five hits, four runs all earned, walked two, and struck out two.

Tulane Pitchers Work over Wichita State

Meanwhile, senior right hander J.D. Rodriguez had his finest outing as a Greenie. The 6' 5" righty had his longest stint on the mound in his Tulane career, going 6-and-a-third innings, giving up only four hits, a lone run that was earned, not walking a Shocker, and striking out four.

When Jay Uhlman went to the bullpen, Jack Brafa and Sam Larson came on to shut out Wichita State over the last 2-and-two-thirds frames.

Sluggerbirds Were Sluggering

Senior James Agabedis has had his struggles at the plate in his final year of collegiate ball. However, when the third bagger gets a hit, it is usually one that clears the outfield wall. That happened again Saturday. With one on and two out in the top of the third, the four-year Greenie smacked a ball way over the heads of any Shockers hoping to gather it in to give the Wave a commanding 6-0 lead. Of the five hits for the young man from Massachusetts this year, three of them have been homers.

Then, already up 7-1 in the top of the 9th, sophomore right fielder Jason Wachs battled the wind and added insult to injury, crushing a solo homer to the deepest part of Eck Stadium to increase the lead to 8-1.

Along with the two dingers by Agabedis and Wachs, Matthias Hass and Wachs also had doubles, as the Green Wave piled up eleven hits in the contest. Wachs ended up 3-for-4 for the game, scoring a run and collecting two RBI. Nate Johnson went 2-for-5, with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.

Ripples

- Jason Wachs has now reached safely in 59 straight games going back to his freshman season last year. In case you're wondering, the longest officially recognized NCAA Division I consecutive games reached base streak is 102, set by Brian Ellis of Florida Gulf Coast University between April 30, 2021, and April 11, 2023.
- In his two years in Uptown, starting pitcher J.D. Rodriguez, has never lasted longer than five innings, until Saturday. In his 26-games on the mound, he lasted five frames in 2025 in a victory against Long Beach State. On Saturday against Wichita State, Rodriguez went 6-plus innings.

Tulane will be back on the road to Beaumont, Tuesday, for an away mid-week game against Southland Conference-leading Lamar. First pitch set for 6:05 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium in southeast Texas.